Electronic device and method of messaging meeting invitees

• US 7,730,404 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bocking, Andrew, May, Darrell R., Khan, Atif
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAO H
• Application Number:
  US11/495,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 715/715, 715/751, 715/740, 715/780, 715851-853, 715/700
• US Class Current: 715/715
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications

Abstract

A method of composing an email message at an electronic device and an electronic device operable to carry out the method are provided. The method includes receiving an email command from a user input of the electronic device through a calendar user interface, the email command relating to at least one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting, and providing an email composition interface in response to receiving the email command. The email composition interface includes a user-editable portion of an address field. The user-editable portion of the address field is automatically populated with email address information for the at least one of the plurality of intended attendees.

Claims

1. A method of composing an email message at an electronic device having a processor, a memory maintaining a calendar application and a message application, an input device and a display, the method comprising:

providing a calendar user interface on said display;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting at said processor from said input device;

responsive to said selection, providing an updated calendar user interface on said display, comprising at least one selectable email command option;

receiving an email command relating to at least said selected intended attendee at said processor from said input device; and

providing an email composition interface on said display in response to receiving said email command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field,

wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for at least said selected intended attendee.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving said calendared meeting as a calendar entry in said calendar application prior to said receiving an email command, the calendared meeting including at least a date, a time and email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving said calendared meeting comprises:

receiving an invitation to a meeting at said electronic device, said invitation including said email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees;

receiving an accept command at said processor from said input device in response to receipt of said invitation; and

saving said meeting and said email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees as said calendar entry, for viewing using said calendar user interface.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein receiving said calendared meeting comprises:

composing at said electronic device, an invitation to a meeting, said invitation including said email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees;

sending said invitation to each of said plurality of intended attendees using respective said email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees; and

saving said meeting and said email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees as said calendar entry.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user-editable portion of a subject field is automatically populated with information identifying said calendared meeting.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving said email command comprises receiving an email command relating to all of said intended attendees of said calendared meeting and wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for each of said plurality of intended attendees.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said intended attendees include all invitees to said calendared meeting.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving said email command comprises receiving an email command relating only to said selected intended attendee of said calendared meeting and wherein said user-editable portion of the address field is automatically populated with email address information for said selected intended attendee.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein receiving an email command comprises receiving a selection of said at least one selectable email command option.

10. An electronic device having a calendar application and email capability, the electronic device comprising:

a memory for maintaining said calendar application and a message application;

a display;

an input device; and

a processor connected to said display and said input device, said processor operable to control said display to provide a calendar user interface;

said processor further operable to receive a selection of one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting from said input device;

said processor further operable, responsive to said selection, to control said display to provide an updated calendar user interface comprising at least one selectable email command option;

said processor further operable receive an email command from said input device relating to at least said selected intended attendee and to control said display to provide an email composition interface in response to receiving said email command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field, wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for at least said selected intended attendee.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device is a portable electronic device.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device is a portable handheld electronic device.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising a transmitter and receiver connected to said processor for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.

14. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for an electronic device having a processor, a memory maintaining a calendar application and a message application, an input device and a display, the set of instructions for:

providing a calendar user interface on said display;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of intended attendees of a calendared meeting at said processor from said input device;

responsive to said selection, providing an updated calendar user interface on said display, comprising at least one selectable email command option;

receiving an email command relating to at least said selected intended attendee at said processor from said input device; and

providing an email composition interface on said display in response to receiving said email command, said email composition interface including a user-editable portion of an address field,

wherein said user-editable portion of said address field is automatically populated with email address information for at least said selected intended attendee.